This is a message that is better on audio, but it wasn't recorded. So the text may not flow as well, but it did in my head!
A Father’s Plea—Mark 5:21-43--Jairius’ daughter
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he is wrong.—Charles Wadsworth
Fatherhood, for me, has been less a job than an unstable and surprising combination of adventure, blindman’s bluff, guerrilla warfare, and a crossword puzzle
Billy Graham—A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.”
READ Mark 5:21-24a
He risked everything for her—a synagogue ruler—one who was in charge of the worship service or the building—Jairus was coming to Jesus under great stress and concern. Perhaps he had exhausted all other options—by coming to Jesus, he risked his reputation in the community, he risked losing that position, he risked being thrown out of the synagogue all together and being cut off form the Covenant People of God.
He showed His love for her—she was his only daughter and if there was a way to help her, he would find it
He was willing to humble himself for her—he fell at Jesus’ feet and plead earnestly for her—when it came to his daughter, his children—dignity goes out the window.
He was willing to go to Jesus Himself—he didn’t send someone else—he didn’t let his wife go and take the kids to church while he stayed home to watch TV.
He called to Jesus, begged Jesus on her behalf
He demonstrated faith—he believed, personally—that Jesus could heal her, that he could even help her to live—vs. 23
In 1882, J. R. Miller published a book called, Home-Making:
What we want to do with our children, is not merely to control them and keep them in order-but to implant true principles deep in their hearts which shall rule their whole lives; to shape their character from within into Christ-like beauty, and to make of them noble men and women, strong for battle of life. They are to be trained rather than governed. Growth of character, not merely good behavior-is the object of all home governing and teaching. Therefore the home influence is far more important than the home laws; and the parents' lives are of more significance than their teachings. Whatever may be done in the way of governing, teaching or training-theories are not half as important as the parents' lives. They may teach the most beautiful things-but if the child does not see these things modeled in the life of the parent, he will not consider them important enough to be adopted in his own life.
He held nothing back.
READ 5:35-43
I love the fact that Jesus didn’t listen to those voices telling Him to stop.
Even when others tried to discourage him, Jesus kept coming-even after the bad news, there is no record that Jairus tried to stop him, dissuade him—he believed, held on to desperation, held on to hope. As long as Jesus was coming, there was hope.
Upon his daughter being raised from the dead,
He was astonished—Ekstasis-Existemi –both words mean astonished or to throw out of position, off balance—instead of a double negative—it is a double positive to show the impact it had.
Praised her healing and her Healer—Jarius would have wanted to tell the whole world but Jesus said not to.
Jairus would have seen the power of Christ every morning when his daughter woke up. Many people knew about her death so it couldn’t have been kept totally private. But even though Jesus tokd them not to let anyone know about it—who do you think Jairus made sure never forgot about what had happened?
And when reports came back after the events in Jerusalem that Jesus had been crucified and that He had been raised from the dead, who would have been most likely to believe it?
What do you think is the likelihood that she grew up and became a believer in Jesus Christ?
There are no New Testament accounts that tells me that, but it does seem likely.
Maybe you’re past your child raising days—maybe you have the privilege of being a grandparent
This passage sets a good example--
Care Earnestly for them—Demonstrate your love for them—sacrifice to be with them—Be Willing to Pray on their behalf—abandon all self dignity—and bring them before the Lord Jesus
Here’s even more—I know this church is precious in your hearts. Treat your church like Jairius did his daughter.
Be Willing to Risk—everything on her behalf—don’t be so worried about people’s opinion, what they think of you, what they think of UBC or may think—what you could lose--risk—risk, risk more, risk it all—be more bold than ever before--
Be Willing to Humble yourself--—take the risk, risk embarrassment, discomfort in order to pray for, or invite?
Be willing to go to Jesus on behalf of the church, members and staff
Be willing to demonstrate Trust and Faith—sometimes it’s easy to read the accounts of the life of Christ and wonder—why haven’t I seen any of that kind of movement in my life?
Be willing to Praise Him & give Him all the glory for every miracle
Go to Jesus with all your concerns
Cry out for Jesus to do something on behalf of the church—for renewal, for unity
Demonstrate faith & hope for those things not yet seen—plan, prepare and live expecting them
Praise God for he victories you see
The greatest thing to keep in mind in all of this talk of Father’s Day is that we have a Father who loves us with all His heart.
Know that God is our Father, and the heart that we see in Jairus is but a reflection of the heart of God.
Psalm 84--PS 68:4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds-- his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him.
PS 68:5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
PS 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
PS 103:14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
Know that God took a Great Risk for His Children—He gave us the ability to choose evil instead of good. It affected all of creation.
Know that God Humbled Himself to reach you—humbled even unto death itself—He threw aside His dignity—to be beaten and whipped and naked before the whole world. He took on our infirmities, our sickness, our death—so that we may rise and live.
Know that God was willing to Die to save you and me
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